In response to: Pro is to Con as Progress is to Congress; Blog 7
I do agree that this issue will bring up many other problems, with the "deferred adjudication and treatment". On the other hand there is a great positive, the possibility of saving 200 people a year, that sounds like a good decision to make. On the MADD website, it states that there is more than 30 other states that already have this bill passed. It also has data based on the Texas Drunk Driving records through out the past years, and those numbers are scary, besides the possible downfall that this bill might make, I think it should pass solely based on the data shown, but its worth looking into more.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
The Jury's Out
There are those story's where someone goes to jail and years later evidence comes up that proves their innocence, or a person was framed and wrongly accused, so in these cases what happens? Well, a KXAN article discusses this issue through a case regarding Michael Morton.
After spending 25 years in prison for his wife's murder, Michael Morton was set free in 2011 due to evidence that showed he was not the murderer. The prosecutor at that time was Ken Anderson, who now is the Judge for Williamson County, faces a court of inquiry for withholding evidence in the case that could of helped Morton in court.
As a result of this case, Senator Rodney Ellis introduced two bills. One, Bill 89 that will be heard in the 2013 session and would "create a Texas Innocence Commission to examine post-conviction exoneration" that already has been created in ten other states. This commission will be composed of many people including judiciary, people from the two Houses, and lawyers. Two, "Automatic Disclosure Bill, which would create a statewide standard for disclosure in criminal cases."
I think this bill should be passed, and should have been passed a long time ago, North Carolina passed this bill in 2002/2006. Morton is not the only person that has been wrongfully accused, Morton spent 25 years for a crime he did not commit and there are others like him that have been sent to jail before forensic science could look at important evidence and match fingerprints and blood that could have saved them in court.I think in this case it is especially wrong because the evidence was there it just wasn't presented in court. Ellis mentioned this but I think this issue should be highlighted a little more. Evidence that could show that
"someone is innocent or clearly could exonerate someone" should be shared with the rest of the court.
After spending 25 years in prison for his wife's murder, Michael Morton was set free in 2011 due to evidence that showed he was not the murderer. The prosecutor at that time was Ken Anderson, who now is the Judge for Williamson County, faces a court of inquiry for withholding evidence in the case that could of helped Morton in court.
As a result of this case, Senator Rodney Ellis introduced two bills. One, Bill 89 that will be heard in the 2013 session and would "create a Texas Innocence Commission to examine post-conviction exoneration" that already has been created in ten other states. This commission will be composed of many people including judiciary, people from the two Houses, and lawyers. Two, "Automatic Disclosure Bill, which would create a statewide standard for disclosure in criminal cases."
I think this bill should be passed, and should have been passed a long time ago, North Carolina passed this bill in 2002/2006. Morton is not the only person that has been wrongfully accused, Morton spent 25 years for a crime he did not commit and there are others like him that have been sent to jail before forensic science could look at important evidence and match fingerprints and blood that could have saved them in court.I think in this case it is especially wrong because the evidence was there it just wasn't presented in court. Ellis mentioned this but I think this issue should be highlighted a little more. Evidence that could show that
"someone is innocent or clearly could exonerate someone" should be shared with the rest of the court.
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